Darjeeling, Aug 6 : The indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) in West Bengal's Darjeeling hills in demand of a separate Gorkhaland state, entered its fourth day on Tuesday.
The bandh hit normal life across Darjeeling hills with markets, educational institutes and business establishments remaining closed. Traffic also remained off road.
According to reports, West Bengal Home Secretary GD Gautama will be visiting Darjeeling on Tuesday to take stock of the situation.
The indefinite bandh began at 6 am on Saturday.
Normal life was hit across the hills from Day 1 with the closure of shops, markets, schools, colleges, government and private offices, banks and post offices.
The roads spotted a deserted look as all vehicles remained off them since Saturday morning.
On the eve of the shutdown, a police post was torched injuring two Home Guard (HG) jawans and a government owned guest house was set on fire by alleged Gorkha activists on Friday, at a time when four companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed in Darjeeling anticipating violent movements for Gorkha statehood.
Superintendent of Police Kunal Agarwal said eight people were arrested including a GJM activist and charged with setting off the police outpost on fire at Pokhribong under Kurseong sub-division.
Some miscreants came in disguise with a request to file a complaint. Instead, they poured kerosene and lighted up the wooden outpost injuring two HG personnel on duty.
A government guest house, which was unveiled by West Bengal Chief Minster Mamata Banerjee at Takdah on Jan 9 under the Darjeeling Sadar police station, was torched in the wee hours on Friday by the GJM activists.
--IBNS -
According to reports, West Bengal Home Secretary GD Gautama will be visiting Darjeeling on Tuesday to take stock of the situation.
The indefinite bandh began at 6 am on Saturday.
Normal life was hit across the hills from Day 1 with the closure of shops, markets, schools, colleges, government and private offices, banks and post offices.
The roads spotted a deserted look as all vehicles remained off them since Saturday morning.
On the eve of the shutdown, a police post was torched injuring two Home Guard (HG) jawans and a government owned guest house was set on fire by alleged Gorkha activists on Friday, at a time when four companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed in Darjeeling anticipating violent movements for Gorkha statehood.
Superintendent of Police Kunal Agarwal said eight people were arrested including a GJM activist and charged with setting off the police outpost on fire at Pokhribong under Kurseong sub-division.
Some miscreants came in disguise with a request to file a complaint. Instead, they poured kerosene and lighted up the wooden outpost injuring two HG personnel on duty.
A government guest house, which was unveiled by West Bengal Chief Minster Mamata Banerjee at Takdah on Jan 9 under the Darjeeling Sadar police station, was torched in the wee hours on Friday by the GJM activists.
--IBNS -
Self-immolation victim cremated
Darjeeling, Aug 5 : Darjeeling's first victim of self-immolation Mangal Singh Rajput was cremated at him home town Kalimpong in the presence of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supremo Bimal Gurung as the indefinite shut down for second phase entered third day on Monday.
The GJM, sponsoring the general strike for statehood, described Rajput (45) as the first martyr of the current agitation whose sacrifice would not go in vain.
Rajput, a resident of Dr Graham Homes area, set himself on fire at Dambarchawk last Tuesday, succumbed to his burn at a private nursing in Siliguri on Saturday.
His body was brought here on Sunday and the cremation was held at Kalimpong burning ghat.
The self-immolation was first of its kind in Darjeeling since the Gorkhaland movement turned violent in the mid 80s.
Meanwhile, the police so far have arrested 20 GJM activists, including four on Monday for preventing the driveway of district magistrate's office here.
The police also produced six GJM party activiists, including Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) member Ramesh Lama, into the Jalpaiguri court for burning a car and obstruction NH 31A on Sunday.
Among the arrested were from Takdah for torching the government guest house and police outpost at Pokhribong last week.
The bandh continued to cripple life in Darjeeling hill areas with shops, markets, offices, schools and colleges remaining closed. Vehicles were off the roads.
--IBNS -
Rajput, a resident of Dr Graham Homes area, set himself on fire at Dambarchawk last Tuesday, succumbed to his burn at a private nursing in Siliguri on Saturday.
His body was brought here on Sunday and the cremation was held at Kalimpong burning ghat.
The self-immolation was first of its kind in Darjeeling since the Gorkhaland movement turned violent in the mid 80s.
Meanwhile, the police so far have arrested 20 GJM activists, including four on Monday for preventing the driveway of district magistrate's office here.
The police also produced six GJM party activiists, including Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) member Ramesh Lama, into the Jalpaiguri court for burning a car and obstruction NH 31A on Sunday.
Among the arrested were from Takdah for torching the government guest house and police outpost at Pokhribong last week.
The bandh continued to cripple life in Darjeeling hill areas with shops, markets, offices, schools and colleges remaining closed. Vehicles were off the roads.
--IBNS -
Tourists give cold shoulder to Darjeeling on the boil
By Sahana Ghosh, Kolkata, Aug 6 : As the picturesque hills of Darjeeling simmer following the renewed campaign for Gorkhaland, domestic tour operators are receiving massive cancellations for bus and car services to the hot spots even as trekking and camping trails have gone dead.
For now, Darjeeling is "not on the minds of travellers" opting for Himalayan tourism, said Gour Kanjilal, executive director of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), New Delhi.
This has prompted tourists to shift to other destinations like Shimla and Kulu Manali in far away Himachal Pradesh.
"Those who have come back have had a bitter experience... No food, no water, no transport. Therefore the rest have decided against going to Darjeeling," rues Kanjilal.
"Now there is uncertainty regarding the festive season (Durga Puja in October) and tourism overall," he said.
According to travel agents in Kolkata, enthusiasts are deviating from Darjeeling and chosing to explore neighbouring Bhutan and the lush forests of Dooars in north Bengal.
"We have recieved cancellations," Suman Pal of Ajanar Sandhaneya (a domestic tour operator) told IANS.
The Darjeeling hills have been on the boil after the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) intensified its movement for Gorkhaland - to be carved out of parts of Darjeeling and neighbouring Jalpaiguri district - after Telangana got statehood.
The consequent indefinite strike called Aug 3 has severely restricted the movement of vehicles along the National Highway 31A connecting Siliguri in Darjeeling district with Gangtok, capital of Sikkim.
Nestled in the Himalayan ranges, the sleepy town of Darjeeling (which doubles as a district) is the starting point for avid trekkers and routine backpackers who prefer to go off the beaten track to Sandakphu (highest peak in West Bengal).
Jeep safaris to the Singalila National Park are veritable treasures for wildlife buffs.
Now, thanks to a shutdown, the trails have run cold and the parks remain bereft of tourists.
"All our bookings for the Sandakphu, Phalut and Singalila stand cancelled. No one wants to go there now," Subash Tamang of Ashmita Treks and Tours in Darjeeling told IANS.
The only option for tourists is the railway. "They are taking the trains instead of buses," said an agent of Wheels and Wings.
According to operators, helicopter services to Gangtok may soon start in full strength.
Yet, with the holiday season set to start, booking agents are hopeful that the GJM will allow tourists to enter the area during the Durga Puja beginning Oct 9.
"It is their source of revenue. So they can't continue like this," said an agent of Gallivant Tours and Travels.
--IANS
This has prompted tourists to shift to other destinations like Shimla and Kulu Manali in far away Himachal Pradesh.
"Those who have come back have had a bitter experience... No food, no water, no transport. Therefore the rest have decided against going to Darjeeling," rues Kanjilal.
"Now there is uncertainty regarding the festive season (Durga Puja in October) and tourism overall," he said.
According to travel agents in Kolkata, enthusiasts are deviating from Darjeeling and chosing to explore neighbouring Bhutan and the lush forests of Dooars in north Bengal.
"We have recieved cancellations," Suman Pal of Ajanar Sandhaneya (a domestic tour operator) told IANS.
The Darjeeling hills have been on the boil after the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) intensified its movement for Gorkhaland - to be carved out of parts of Darjeeling and neighbouring Jalpaiguri district - after Telangana got statehood.
The consequent indefinite strike called Aug 3 has severely restricted the movement of vehicles along the National Highway 31A connecting Siliguri in Darjeeling district with Gangtok, capital of Sikkim.
Nestled in the Himalayan ranges, the sleepy town of Darjeeling (which doubles as a district) is the starting point for avid trekkers and routine backpackers who prefer to go off the beaten track to Sandakphu (highest peak in West Bengal).
Jeep safaris to the Singalila National Park are veritable treasures for wildlife buffs.
Now, thanks to a shutdown, the trails have run cold and the parks remain bereft of tourists.
"All our bookings for the Sandakphu, Phalut and Singalila stand cancelled. No one wants to go there now," Subash Tamang of Ashmita Treks and Tours in Darjeeling told IANS.
The only option for tourists is the railway. "They are taking the trains instead of buses," said an agent of Wheels and Wings.
According to operators, helicopter services to Gangtok may soon start in full strength.
Yet, with the holiday season set to start, booking agents are hopeful that the GJM will allow tourists to enter the area during the Durga Puja beginning Oct 9.
"It is their source of revenue. So they can't continue like this," said an agent of Gallivant Tours and Travels.
--IANS
Darjeeling,
Aug 6 : The indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha
(GJM) in West Bengal's Darjeeling hills in demand of a separate
Gorkhaland state, entered its fourth day on Tuesday. - See more at:
http://www.newkerala.com/news/story/50914/gorkhaland-darjeeling-bandh-enters-4th-day.html#sthash.5V2FD4d4.dpuf
Darjeeling,
Aug 6 : The indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha
(GJM) in West Bengal's Darjeeling hills in demand of a separate
Gorkhaland state, entered its fourth day on Tuesday. - See more at:
http://www.newkerala.com/news/story/50914/gorkhaland-darjeeling-bandh-enters-4th-day.html#sthash.5V2FD4d4.dpuf
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